Alexandre Branco
@alxmbb.bsky.social
🇵🇹 • PhD candidate in astronomy researching exoplanet atmospheres at U.Porto, Institute of Astrophysics 🌏🔭
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
Exoplanet atmosphere characterization is built on a foundation of lab data and chemistry. We need more reaction rates, cross sections, & line lists, at a broader range of conditions than the Solar System. Got together with Earth/planetary scientists to comment on this: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to understand exoplanets — space scientists call on lab-based chemists to help
Stronger links between researchers who work on Earth’s and other planets’ atmospheres, and between the experimental, modelling and observational communities, will help to interpret the astronomical da...
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Exoplanet atmosphere characterization is built on a foundation of lab data and chemistry. We need more reaction rates, cross sections, & line lists, at a broader range of conditions than the Solar System. Got together with Earth/planetary scientists to comment on this: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
So, we are tracking well above Cycle 4. Figure by @mpudoka.bsky.social and Yongda Zhu. 🔭
October 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
So, we are tracking well above Cycle 4. Figure by @mpudoka.bsky.social and Yongda Zhu. 🔭
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
The Smithsonian's museums and zoo are now closed due to the government shut down. Tours of historic Washington, D.C. sites have been suspended and the National Gallery of Art is also closed.
Smithsonian closes as government shut down continues
The Smithsonian's museums and zoo are now closed due to the government shut down. Tours of historic Washington, D.C. sites have been suspended and the National Gallery of Art is also closed.
n.pr
October 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The Smithsonian's museums and zoo are now closed due to the government shut down. Tours of historic Washington, D.C. sites have been suspended and the National Gallery of Art is also closed.
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
“A peaceful place, or so it looks from space…”
New image of the home world and our companion moon, captured last month from 180 million miles out by our Psyche spacecraft on its way toward the first rendezvous with a metallic asteroid in 2029.
🧪
www.nasa.gov/missions/psy...
New image of the home world and our companion moon, captured last month from 180 million miles out by our Psyche spacecraft on its way toward the first rendezvous with a metallic asteroid in 2029.
🧪
www.nasa.gov/missions/psy...
August 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
“A peaceful place, or so it looks from space…”
New image of the home world and our companion moon, captured last month from 180 million miles out by our Psyche spacecraft on its way toward the first rendezvous with a metallic asteroid in 2029.
🧪
www.nasa.gov/missions/psy...
New image of the home world and our companion moon, captured last month from 180 million miles out by our Psyche spacecraft on its way toward the first rendezvous with a metallic asteroid in 2029.
🧪
www.nasa.gov/missions/psy...
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
Prospective graduate students, please find the resulting list at:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Questions- Please email Sarah Horst ([email protected])
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Questions- Please email Sarah Horst ([email protected])
Planetary Science MS/PhD Positions Starting Fall 2026
docs.google.com
August 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Prospective graduate students, please find the resulting list at:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Questions- Please email Sarah Horst ([email protected])
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Questions- Please email Sarah Horst ([email protected])
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
I am community sourcing a list of people who are actively in search of MS/PhD students in planetary science/astrobiology/exoplanets for Fall 2026. If you are such a person, please fill out the following google form:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Planetary Science MS/PhD Positions for Fall 2026
Crowd sourced list of people who are looking for MS/PhD students to help connect prospective students with advisors so we can do even more fabulous planetary science! (Submitting a response indicates ...
docs.google.com
August 5, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I am community sourcing a list of people who are actively in search of MS/PhD students in planetary science/astrobiology/exoplanets for Fall 2026. If you are such a person, please fill out the following google form:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
This month I had an absolutely fantastic experience learning about origins of life research at the XXI International Summer School of Astrobiology “Josep Comas i Solà” in Santander, Spain 🇪🇸🪐🧬🌏
Huge thanks to @esa.int for making this possible!
Huge thanks to @esa.int for making this possible!
July 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
This month I had an absolutely fantastic experience learning about origins of life research at the XXI International Summer School of Astrobiology “Josep Comas i Solà” in Santander, Spain 🇪🇸🪐🧬🌏
Huge thanks to @esa.int for making this possible!
Huge thanks to @esa.int for making this possible!
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
June 3, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
I wrote a research note about the recent publication of the MIRI/LRS spectrum of K2-18b. The authors had claimed the detection of potential signs of life. I find the data to be consistent with a flat line 🔭🧪
Are there Spectral Features in the MIRI/LRS Transmission Spectrum of K2-18b?
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.15916
Jake Taylor.
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.15916
Jake Taylor.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.15916
arXiv abstract link
arxiv.org
April 23, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I wrote a research note about the recent publication of the MIRI/LRS spectrum of K2-18b. The authors had claimed the detection of potential signs of life. I find the data to be consistent with a flat line 🔭🧪
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
𝗡𝗼, 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝟮-𝟭𝟴𝗯'𝘀 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.
K2-18b is back in the news, now with a bold claim that biosignature molecules (DMS and/or DMDS) have been 'detected at 3σ'.
Most exoplanet astronomers are extremely sceptical about these claims, let's see why (1/n).
🔭🧪🪐 #exoplanet
K2-18b is back in the news, now with a bold claim that biosignature molecules (DMS and/or DMDS) have been 'detected at 3σ'.
Most exoplanet astronomers are extremely sceptical about these claims, let's see why (1/n).
🔭🧪🪐 #exoplanet
April 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
𝗡𝗼, 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝟮-𝟭𝟴𝗯'𝘀 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.
K2-18b is back in the news, now with a bold claim that biosignature molecules (DMS and/or DMDS) have been 'detected at 3σ'.
Most exoplanet astronomers are extremely sceptical about these claims, let's see why (1/n).
🔭🧪🪐 #exoplanet
K2-18b is back in the news, now with a bold claim that biosignature molecules (DMS and/or DMDS) have been 'detected at 3σ'.
Most exoplanet astronomers are extremely sceptical about these claims, let's see why (1/n).
🔭🧪🪐 #exoplanet
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
In Defense of Science
youtu.be/ABU06LDZpfY
youtu.be/ABU06LDZpfY
In Defense of Science
YouTube video by Cool Worlds
youtu.be
April 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
In Defense of Science
youtu.be/ABU06LDZpfY
youtu.be/ABU06LDZpfY
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
Such a pleasure as always to get to present my work at @arieltelescope.bsky.social consortium meeting 🪐🔭
I know it was a packed 3 days so if you missed me please feel free to still drop me a message!
-- Also thankyou Leiden for being such a pretty city 👀
I know it was a packed 3 days so if you missed me please feel free to still drop me a message!
-- Also thankyou Leiden for being such a pretty city 👀
April 12, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Such a pleasure as always to get to present my work at @arieltelescope.bsky.social consortium meeting 🪐🔭
I know it was a packed 3 days so if you missed me please feel free to still drop me a message!
-- Also thankyou Leiden for being such a pretty city 👀
I know it was a packed 3 days so if you missed me please feel free to still drop me a message!
-- Also thankyou Leiden for being such a pretty city 👀
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
SCOOP: The Trump administration is planning to eliminate an entire team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology responsible for publishing critical data that underpins advanced scientific research around the world. from me and @willknight.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/nist-d...
Trump Admin Plans to Cut Team Responsible for Critical Atomic Measurement Data
The team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology publishes measurement data crucial for advanced research in areas like astrophysics, nuclear fusion, and semiconductors.
www.wired.com
March 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
SCOOP: The Trump administration is planning to eliminate an entire team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology responsible for publishing critical data that underpins advanced scientific research around the world. from me and @willknight.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/nist-d...
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
Sign the petition: chng.it/wyb9ppnsKQ 🧪🔭
March 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Sign the petition: chng.it/wyb9ppnsKQ 🧪🔭
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
The atomic spectral lines in this app come from the NIST atomic spectroscopy group, which has provided the world with spectroscopic measurements for 120 years.
Today we got word that the federal government is laying off the entire group. 🔭🧪
Today we got word that the federal government is laying off the entire group. 🔭🧪
Tired of wondering which atomic lines are in your spectra? You need:
*whose line is it anyway?* An interactive tool for identifying atomic spectral lines. 🧪🔭 #stars
install:
pip install whoseline
source:
github.com/bmorris3/who...
*whose line is it anyway?* An interactive tool for identifying atomic spectral lines. 🧪🔭 #stars
install:
pip install whoseline
source:
github.com/bmorris3/who...
March 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The atomic spectral lines in this app come from the NIST atomic spectroscopy group, which has provided the world with spectroscopic measurements for 120 years.
Today we got word that the federal government is laying off the entire group. 🔭🧪
Today we got word that the federal government is laying off the entire group. 🔭🧪
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
I keep forgetting when and where telescope observing cycles/periods are, so I spent a part of this morning making this spreadsheet which you can view. I will attempt to keep it updated (and yes, P116 is 7 months, not six!) #astrodon #exoplanets 🔭🪐
March 15, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I keep forgetting when and where telescope observing cycles/periods are, so I spent a part of this morning making this spreadsheet which you can view. I will attempt to keep it updated (and yes, P116 is 7 months, not six!) #astrodon #exoplanets 🔭🪐
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
New: A NOAA lab in Hawaii that is connected to the longest-running observation of global greenhouse gas concentrations is slated for closure in August, according to a list of lease terminations Democratic members of Congress shared with @washingtonpost.com.
Trump moves to close government lab that tracks planet-warming pollution
The lab is connected to the Mauna Loa Observatory, where scientists gather data to produce the Keeling Curve, a chart on the daily status of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 14, 2025 at 6:23 PM
New: A NOAA lab in Hawaii that is connected to the longest-running observation of global greenhouse gas concentrations is slated for closure in August, according to a list of lease terminations Democratic members of Congress shared with @washingtonpost.com.
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
🔭🧪 There are many bad shutdowns, but this is very bad. The Mauna Loa plots are one of the best #scicomm tools available to show rising CO2, and they’re so impactful specifically *because* they’re up to date w/ such a clear trend over such a long time. Explore while you can: gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/
March 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
🔭🧪 There are many bad shutdowns, but this is very bad. The Mauna Loa plots are one of the best #scicomm tools available to show rising CO2, and they’re so impactful specifically *because* they’re up to date w/ such a clear trend over such a long time. Explore while you can: gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
🔭 The JWST Cycle 4 science program is out today! 🔭
Some truly exhilarating #exoplanet programs will be carried out by JWST starting in July 2025.
Let's take a look at some highlights. 🛰️🔭🪐
THREAD (1/9)
Some truly exhilarating #exoplanet programs will be carried out by JWST starting in July 2025.
Let's take a look at some highlights. 🛰️🔭🪐
THREAD (1/9)
March 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
🔭 The JWST Cycle 4 science program is out today! 🔭
Some truly exhilarating #exoplanet programs will be carried out by JWST starting in July 2025.
Let's take a look at some highlights. 🛰️🔭🪐
THREAD (1/9)
Some truly exhilarating #exoplanet programs will be carried out by JWST starting in July 2025.
Let's take a look at some highlights. 🛰️🔭🪐
THREAD (1/9)
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
See that small dot to the lower left of the Sun's centre?
That's the planet Mercury.
That's the planet Mercury.
February 12, 2025 at 10:17 PM
See that small dot to the lower left of the Sun's centre?
That's the planet Mercury.
That's the planet Mercury.
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
NIH has cut billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately
The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately
The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
NIH has cut billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately
The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
The US government has been turned over to a group of extraordinarily ignorant people, and they are working to destroy science in this country. Cutting over half the NSF budget would save < 0.1% of the federal budget, but do incalculable harm. Simply heartbreaking.
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
White House budget proposal could shatter the National Science Foundation
“This kind of cut would kill American science and boost China.”…
arstechnica.com
February 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
The US government has been turned over to a group of extraordinarily ignorant people, and they are working to destroy science in this country. Cutting over half the NSF budget would save < 0.1% of the federal budget, but do incalculable harm. Simply heartbreaking.
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
USAID, NOAA …
Doge staffers enter Noaa headquarters and incite reports of cuts and threats
Members reportedly sought access to IT systems at agency that Project 2025 has called ‘harmful to US prosperity’
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
USAID, NOAA …
Reposted by Alexandre Branco
NASA did a feature on me last year. It was up this weekend but now when you click on the link you get a 404 message.
February 5, 2025 at 5:04 AM
NASA did a feature on me last year. It was up this weekend but now when you click on the link you get a 404 message.